Autonomous UK Payroll Specialist – Governance & Systems

Smiths Detection Group; Hemel Hempstead; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Smiths Detection is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to take ownership of a critical payroll function supporting approximately 500 employees across the UK.

This role is not a traditional payroll processing position; we require a payroll expert who can lead from the front, ensuring payroll compliance, driving continuous improvement, strengthening governance, and acting as the organisation’s subject matter expert for all payroll-related matters.

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing end-to-end UK payroll within a complex organisation.
• Strong working knowledge of UK payroll legislation, HMRC requirements and statutory payments.
• Experience managing outsourced payroll providers.
• Experience with pensions, benefits and salary sacrifice schemes.
• Strong understanding of payroll controls, governance and compliance.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of a business-critical function.
• Exceptional attention to detail and confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end payroll process across UK operations.
• Act as the payroll compliance and governance expert.
• Manage relationships with outsourced payroll providers and third-party partners.
• Review payroll outputs and reconciliations, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Provide guidance on payroll legislation, taxation, statutory payments and best practice.
• Handle complex payroll queries and investigations.
• Support payroll accounting, reconciliations, reporting and audit activities.
• Administer payroll-related benefits and salary sacrifice schemes.
• Drive payroll process improvements, automation and system enhancements.
• Support future payroll projects, integrations, system implementations and business transformation initiatives.
• Partner with HR, Finance and external stakeholders to deliver an exceptional payroll service.

Skills

UK payroll knowledge

Excel

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Independence

Confidentiality

Stakeholder management

Education

N/A

Tools

SAP

ADP Payroll

Job description

Smiths Detection is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to take ownership of a critical payroll function supporting approximately 500 employees across the UK.

This role is not a traditional payroll processing position; we require a payroll expert who can lead from the front, ensuring payroll compliance, driving continuous improvement, strengthening governance, and acting as the organisation’s subject matter expert for all payroll-related matters.